Meaning of write off | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To reduce the book value of (an asset) to zero.
   transitive
2. To record (an expenditure) as an expense.
   transitive
3. To remove a portion of a debt or an amount of an account owed, counting it as a loss (as a gesture of goodwill for example).
   transitive
4. To record a notional expense such as amortization or depreciation.
5. To treat as a write-off, a total loss, especially something damaged beyond economic repair.
6. To assign a low value to (somebody or something).
   figuratively, transitive

Equivalents

Examples

“The '800' received substantial collision damage, while the High Speed Train power car was written off.”

“When Katya was injured, he wrote off the team's chances in the finals.”

“Hey, don't write yourself off yet / It's only in your head, you feel left out”

“They have shown their staying power before and it would be daft to write them off but it must be disturbing, nonetheless, for Mourinho that his team are five points behind already and locked in a game of catch-up against the side that has just subjected them to a rare, old-fashioned beating.”

CEFR level